Orchard ladder



Sept. 6, 1927. C. L. SMITH ORCHARD LADDER Filed Aug. 16. 1926 I [Wmor 4 I V C ap/l2 1 ment of my invention.

Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

P CARL, snrrnfor 'mes :vm,-oaaeon i ORCHARD LADDER;

a pli tion and a gust 16 ,1 1 92'6.- Serial No. 1293134; i

My present invention pertains to stepladv dens for archarduse'in which asingle stile is employed.

i The generalobjeetof my invention is the provision'of a step ladder of the kind indicated: in whichthe steps are, strongly sup ported and inwhich thesteps are equipped with guards'for thefeet of aauser, and this without materiallyincreasing the cost'of the step. ladder;

I Other objects and practical. advantages of theinvention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the enlarged scale, taken KOIl" the plane indicated by the l-ine3-3ofFigure 1, looking downwardly; M r w 7 Figure 4: is a' horizontal section on an en larged scale taken on the plane indicated by'the line 1 of. Figure 2 looking clownwardly'. I i

Figure 5is a detail elevation illustrative of the prop connection, said view being taken from a view 'pointfat the right of Figure 2. H

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the Stile per se as hereinafter explicitly referred to. 7

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawing.

Among other elements, 1ny novel ladder "7 comprises a stile 1, divergent braces 2 fixed at their upper ends to the stile 1 and dis posed at opposite sides of said stile 1 and a back strip 3 disposed at right angles to the stile 1 and which like the stile 1 and the braces 2 is preferably formed of wood. The said strip 3 is fixedto the backof the stile 1 and extends laterallybeyond the sides of the stile 1 and is provided in its lateral portions at intermediate points in its length with mortises 4 and is also provided inthe upper end of its laterally extended portlons with mortises 5, the mortises 4 being clearly brought out in Figures 3 and- 6, and the mortises 5 being made clear by Figures 4 and 7.

Interposed between the divergent braces 2 is a cross'brace '6 and below the side cross brace Gris ax'cross rod-7 and reinforcing str1psr8, the crossrod 7 belng secured at 'its ends inthe divergent braces 2, and the rein-forcing strips SY bei ng connected to the inner sides of "the braces 2 and'being ar- I ranged immediately under the cross brace 6 and the rod- 7. in r At 9 are combined steps'and-braces, preferably of wood, arranged at opposite sides of the stile 1 and supported at their inner endsin mortises 4t in the strip 8 and having their outer ends opposed to thedivergent braces 2. It will also be understood at this point that the rod: 10is extended through the divergent braces 2, the steps 9 and stile 1,and is secured in position for thestrong connection-of the steps 9 to the braces 2 and the stile 1. v I prefer to have my novel ladder comprise four pairsof steps 11, one of the said pairs I being arranged between the divergent braces 2- and the other three pairs of steps 11 arranged above the said divergent braces 2;

All of the said steps 11' are preferably formed of wood, and each step 11 has its inner end opposed to the stile 1 and sup ported inamortise 4t, in the strip 3. i It will alsobe noted that each pair of steps 11 are connected together and to the stile 1 by a :bolt '12, headed at13, and that guard plates 14? are secured in working relation to the steps 11 by the bolts 12. In this connection it will be noted that each guard plate 14: is interposed between a head 13 of the bolt'12 and the outer end of one step 11 and is extended above the surface of the step 11 so as to effectively prevent the foot of a user from slipping off the step 11. This will be appreciated as an important advantage of my invention when it is taken in consideration that the guards 14 in addition pare in this connection Figures 3 and 4, and i the said upper steps '11 are arranged at 0ppositesides of the stile 1- and are supported in the uppermost mortises 5 of the strip 3. It will also be noted that a block 15, Figure 4, is interposed between the steps 11*. The

an id steps 11" are reinforced by metallic rods to having heads 17 at their ends. Headed rods 18 and 19 are also passed through the steps 1'1 tor reinforcing purposes, and the rod 19 is also passed through the interposed block and is used as a pintle in the connection of straps 20 through the medium of which a prop 21 is connected with the upper most steps ll The block 15 hereinbe'lore alluded to is formed by the upper end of the prop L l, Figure 5, and hence it will be appre elated that the prop E21 is directly connected in hinged manner with the steps 11 and is also connected in hinged manner with said stops .ll' through the inediui'n oi the straps L't) which manifestly contribute to the strength and durability of the ladder.

A chain or other flexible cable 22 pre [erably interposed between and connected to the prop ill and the strip Figure 2, said cable 22 serving to limit outward movement of the prop 21.

It will also be understood from Figure that the prop 21 is provided at its inner side and at its lower end with a reinforcing bloclc 23 designed to lessen the liability of the lower end of the prop sinking into sott ground.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that my novel single stile ladder is at once simple and inexpensive in construction light in weight, safe in use and strong and durable in construction; also, that the ladder is susceptible (it being conveniently moved from point to point in an orchard or other place where the ladder used.

I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangen'ient of the parts ctunpriscd in the present and preferred enibodiinei'it of my invention in order to impart a t'nlh clear and exact understanding of the said embodiment. I do not desire,

menace however, to be understood as limiting myscli to the precise structure shown and de scribed, my invention being defined by my appended claims within the scope of which structural changes may be made without dopartures from my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim i.

11.. A single stile ladder having a stile and divergent braces fixed thereto and. also hating a bacl: strip fixed to the back of the stile nd entendingat right angles to the stile laterally beyond the sides of the stile and having in its laterally extending portioas moi-titles, steps corresponding in Width to the combined stile and back strip and arranged at opposite sides of and against the stile and having their inner ends seated and supported ii said mortises of said back strip, and headed bolts extending through and connecting the steps and the stile; each oi the said steps being of wood and being provideril at its outer end with a guard plate opposed to said end and extending above the upper surface of the step, and the said guard being arranged upon the bolt and between one head thereot and the opposed end of the step. a

l he combination in a ladder of a stile, a back strip fixed to the back of the stile and extending at right angles to the stile laterall beyond the side of the stile. and'having in its laterally extended portion lnortises, steps arranged at the side of and against the stile and having ends seated and supported in said niortises of said back strip; said steps corresponding in width to the combined stile and back strip, and. means connecting the steps and the stile.

in testimony whereol .l affix my signature:

CARL L. SMITH. 

